System and Method for Character Based Power Source

ABSTRACT

The power source of a toy is disguised as a character or other aspect of the toy itself such that the character appears to operate the toy. Batteries are wrapped in a thin material with graphical artwork disposed thereon. The graphical artwork may disguise the power source (e.g., a battery) as toy characters, a fuel tank, or the like. Corresponding battery operated toys are designed such that the location of one or more batteries used to operate the toy is where a character would naturally sit when operating the toy such as a cockpit. Batteries can be skinned individually or in groups to accommodate the needs of individual toys and various sizes of characters, teams, or toy components.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/866,526 filed on 20 Nov. 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to battery operated consumer toy products and more specifically relates to the use of one or more character identities on an integrated power source that is used to operate a toy.

2. Related Art

Designs of conventional battery operated products and particularly consumer toy products are constrained because they are required to provide a hidden internal compartment where the power source is located that is used to operate the toy. What the industry needs is a system and method that overcomes the design constraints found in the conventional systems as described above.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, systems and methods are provided that disguise the power source as a character or other aspect of the toy itself such that the power source character appears to operate the toy. In one embodiment, batteries are wrapped in a thin material that provides a canvas for graphical artwork. Images of toy characters are placed on the thin material such that when the material is wrapped around a battery, the battery takes on the likeness of the character.

Battery operated toys are designed such that the location of one or more batteries is where a character operator of the battery operated toy would naturally be situated, for example, a cockpit. Thus, when the batteries are installed in the toy, the toy appears to have a pilot, driver, or other type of operator. Indeed, the character becomes the source of power that makes the toy work. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating example batteries that are disguised as characters according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example set of multiple batteries that is disguised as a single character according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example battery with end caps according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example battery charger according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a series of example unmanned battery operated toys according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6-9 are block diagrams illustrating example battery operated toys with installed batteries according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example battery operated toy with a character based power source according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating another example battery operated toy with a character based power source according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating yet another example battery operated toy with a character based power source according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating example batteries 10 and 20 (and others) that are disguised as characters according to an embodiment of the present invention. The batteries 10 and 20 can be any sort of standard batteries such as AA batteries, AAA batteries, C, D, and the like. The batteries 10 and 20 may be in any of a variety of shapes and sizes and have any necessary electrical characteristics. In one embodiment, the battery may be an alternative type of power source, such as a photovoltaic or other solar power source, hydrogen store, or any other type of power source or battery.

In the illustrated embodiment, the batteries 10 and 20 are wrapped in material that has artwork disposed thereon. As can be seen, these “skins” are designed to disguise the battery as a toy character. Any of a variety of characters may be used including famous toy characters and newly created characters. Other non character objects such as fuel tanks and the like may also be used.

Advantageously, kids today are savvy consumers and they generally know what a standard battery looks like and know that it operates as the power source for battery operated toys. Accordingly, kids will understand that when the character skinned battery is installed in the toy that the character becomes the source of the power that makes the toy work. Additionally, the substantial weight of a battery provides the character with the feeling of inherent value beyond the operational function of a battery that makes the toy work. Furthermore, when the battery is depleted of its power supply capability, the depleted battery retains value as a collectable character that can continue to be played with.

Notably, any battery powered toy or other electronic device can be designed to receive a character based power source. For example, remote control vehicles, flash lights, radios, electric toothbrushes, cameras, robotic toys, calculators, personal gaming devices, cell phones, personal digital assistants, etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example set of multiple batteries 30 and that is disguised as a single character 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, multiple power sources (e.g., batteries) are wrapped together in the skin 50 and the skin 50 is designed with a single character. Alternatively, the skin 50 could be designed with multiple characters, one or more objects, or other scenes.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example battery 70 with end caps 80 and 90 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Advantageously, the end caps provide a safety function that hides the positive and negative poles (i.e., the electrical conducting areas) of the battery so that the power source characters can be played with out shocking the users. These end caps 80 and 90 also provide additional value to the character and can be used with a depleted battery to extend the useful life of the battery beyond its conventional function as a power source.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example battery charger 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery charger 100 is designed to be a part of the character paradigm while also performing the function of recharging the batteries 110 and 120 when plugged into a power outlet 130. The battery charger 100 may be configured to recharge one or more batteries.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a series of example unmanned battery operated toys 140, 150, 160, and 170 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the toys are designed such that a character skinned battery, when installed, becomes the pilot or operator of the toy. For example, the battery compartments of the toys are engineered to serve as the “cockpit” for the characters. Advantageously, translucent plastics can be used so that the character based power sources can be seen while installed and operational, as opposed to conventional toys that are designed to hide the battery compartment.

In an alternative embodiment, the electronic device that receives the skinned battery can be a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal gaming device, or other consumer electronic device that operates on batteries or some other portable power source. Advantageously, the graphics on the skin can be customized with a photograph or other type of personalized image that may be provided by the consumer when ordering or purchasing the battery or other power source.

FIGS. 6-9 are block diagrams illustrating example battery operated toys 140, 150, 160, and 170 with installed batteries 145, 147, 175, 165, and 155 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in the figures, the toys are designed to feature the character based power sources as the pilot or operator of the various toys.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example battery operated toy 210 with a character based power source 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the toy operates as a flashlight but can also be used as a rocket ship in character based play.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating another example battery operated toy 240 with a character based power sources 220 and 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the toy operates as a radio but can also be used as a car in character based play.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating yet another example battery operated toy 260 with a character based power source 250 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the toy operates as a spaceship that makes sounds during character based play.

While the particular system and method herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above described objects of this invention, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent exemplary embodiments of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly not limited. 

1. An electronic device assembly, comprising: an electronic device having an outer body and electronic components which operate in connection with the device; the outer body having a power source compartment which receives at least one power source which is electrically coupled to the electronic components; at least one power source seated in the compartment; the power source having an outer surface and an outer skin with a decorative graphical image disposed thereon which covers and conceals at least a portion of the outer surface of the power source; and the outer body having an opening which exposes the power source compartment, whereby at least part of the decorative image on the outer skin of the power source is exposed to a user of the electronic device through the opening.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery having positive and negative poles, the power source compartment has contacts which engage the positive and negative poles when the battery is seated in the compartment, and the outer skin substantially covers the entire outer surface of the battery apart from the poles.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the decorative graphical image is a representation of a toy character.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a window mounted in the opening, where in the window comprises a translucent material.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the sheet of translucent material comprises a door for access to the power source compartment.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of toys, cell phones, personal digital assistants, personal gaming devices, flashlights, remote control vehicles, radios, electric toothbrushes, electronic media players, cameras, and calculators.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power source compartment has seats which receive at least two power sources, each power source having an outer skin with a decorative graphical image thereon which conceals at least a portion of the outer surface of the power source, and the opening exposes at least part of the outer skin of each power source.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the outer skins of the two power sources have graphical images representing different characters.
 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power source compartment has seats which receive a plurality of power sources and the outer skin having a decorative graphical image thereon is wrapped over the plurality of power sources to hold the power sources together, wherein the exposed part of the decorative graphical image extends over portions of each of the plurality of power sources.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer body is designed as a toy to be operated by a toy character and having a cockpit for a toy character, the power source compartment comprising the cockpit and the decorative indicia on the outer skin representing at least one toy character which appears to operate the toy.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a battery charger.
 12. A battery disguising system, comprising: at least one battery having an outer battery case with positive and negative poles and an outer peripheral surface; and an outer skin wrapped around a substantial portion of the outer peripheral surface of the battery case excluding the positive and negative poles, the skin having a decorative, pictorial image disposed thereon which conceals the underlying battery case surface, the image representing an object or character, whereby the wrapped battery simulates the object or character.
 13. The system of claim 12, comprising at least two batteries, the outer skin being wrapped around both of the batteries and holding them together.
 14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a battery charger which has a compartment which receives the at least one battery for recharging, the compartment having an opening which exposes at least part of the image on the outer skin as the battery is charged.
 15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a battery operated device having a compartment which receives the battery to provide power to the device, the compartment having an opening which exposes at least part of the image on the outer skin as the device is used.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the image represents at least one toy character and the battery operated device comprises a battery operated toy which appears to be operated by the toy character.
 17. A method of disguising a power source in an electronic device, comprising: wrapping at least part of the outer surface of at least one battery in an outer skin having a decorative graphical image disposed thereon which conceals the underlying surface portion of the battery; and placing the at least one battery in a battery compartment of an electronically operated device with at least part of the outer skin exposed through an opening of the compartment when the device is used.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising wrapping a second battery in a second outer skin having a decorative graphical image thereon and placing the second battery in the battery compartment, with the opening revealing at least part of the graphical images on both outer skins, the graphical images on the two skins being different.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising removing the battery from the compartment and placing end caps over opposite ends of the battery, the end caps having graphical images representing a continuation of the graphical image on the skin.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting a skin from a plurality of skins carrying different graphical images prior to wrapping the skin around the battery. 